Native-valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis

QJM. 1996 Nov;89(11):855-8. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/89.11.855.

Abstract

Coagulase-negative staphylococci cause about 5% of native-valve endocarditis. Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a recently-described species of coagulase-negative staphylococci, has been reported to cause destructive native-valve endocarditis with a high mortality. We report four consecutive cases of definite Staphylococcus lugdunensis native-valve endocarditis by the Duke criteria over a 4-year period. All patients required urgent aortic valve replacement 1-5 days after admission, and recovered. An intriguing, aspect in the presentation of these patients was a history of vasectomy and inguinal skin breaks in the immediate period preceding the occurrence of endocarditis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / surgery
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications*
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Vasectomy